Cinderella

Cinderella opens at Nottingham Playhouse on 3 December, running through to 2 January in the Neville Studio. It's a brand-new version of the family favourite, written specifically for children aged three to eight as a first introduction to live theatre and a festive treat. The story follows Cinderella, who dreams of going to the palace with the help of her hilarious animal friends, and it leans on music, magic and plenty of chances for the audience to join in. It's a short one, too — 50 minutes running time — which makes it a good fit for the younger end of that age bracket.

The creative team came through an open call as part of the Playhouse's Amplify programme, which supports Midlands creatives, and the show draws on the venue's long tradition of making work for younger audiences. Katie Arnstein wrote it, Tristan Jackson-Pate directed, and Jude Taylor handled the music as composer and musical director. Set and costume design are by Michelle Cave, a Nottingham Trent University graduate and winner of the Nottingham Playhouse Prize, who oversees the costumes and sets for the Christmas show for younger audiences every year.

There's a bit of thought behind the making of it, too. The production follows Theatre Green Book principles, with at least 50% of materials given a previous life and 65% kept for reuse. It's also an accessible one: there's Creative Captioning, relaxed and BSL-interpreted performances, and Touch Tours for blind and partially sighted people.

Tickets are £15 for general admission, with members paying £12.75, and a £2.50 non-refundable booking fee per order. If you're bringing a group, the Friends and Family Multi-buy brings each ticket down to £13 when you buy four or more. It runs from 3 December to 2 January at the Neville Studio, Wellington Circus, NG1 5AF.